Gwent IAS drop in session at local Jobcentre

Actions and outcomes

I met A at one of our drop-in sessions at Pontypool Jobcentre in July 2019. A attended the Jobcentre with his mother and was seeking employment support. A had previously been disciplined for inappropriate social behaviour in the workplace. As a result of this, A was at risk of losing his job. A is autistic and received his diagnosis as a child.

 

I worked regularly with A for a period of six months. The following interventions were provided:

 

  1. Male SAFE course. This course provided A with education on healthy and safe relationships.
  2. Post Diagnostic Course. This course helped A to learn more about his autism and to gain a better understanding of how it affects him and why.
  3. Autism specific Education Patient Programme. This course helped A to view problem-solving in a different way, by identifying a goal and breaking it into small, achievable steps. It also built A’s confidence.
  4. Wellbeing course. This helped A to consider ways he could improve his wellbeing and provided some coping strategies to do so.
  5. The creation of an ASD individual profile. This helped A to communicate his needs to his employer. It helped his employer to better understand how they could support A effectively.
  6. Support to access reasonable adjustments in the workplace.
  7. Telephone support through duty worker. This helped A to manage situations as they arose in work.
  8. Regular 1:1 with support worker. This helped to monitor A’s progress.
  9. Telephone support for Mum.

 

The outcomes of these interventions were measured via outcome star. These interventions had a significant positive impact on A’s wellbeing, as shown by his attached outcome star.

Feedback

A commented that after the interventions he feels that he is more aware of his autism and his wellbeing has improved.

Lessons Learned

Along with the courses he attended, I supported A and the employer to develop new ways of communicating to reduce misunderstanding. This was a long process and took a lot of modelling. We have reached the point that A now understands that some people occasionally use ‘throw-away’ comments, and they don’t always mean what they say literally. This has improved his communication skills in the workplace. A now has the confidence to approach the employer instead of letting things build up to crisis point.

This shows that with time, effort and patience, good communication skills in the workplace can be fostered.

Information

Health Board:
Aneurin Bevan University Health Board
Local Authority:
Torfaen
Integrated Autism Service:
Gwent IAS
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